Road drag



Jan. 6, 1925. 1,522,164 gs. E. WICKENS,

ROAD DRAG Original Filed New, 18. 1920 :5 sheets-Sheet 1 amaenbog Geo. 2Weckemj Jan; 6. 1925. v 1,522,164

. G. E. WICKENS' ROAD DRAG Original Filed Nov. 18. 192 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Geo. E Wickenrq,

37v anwnkz Jan. 6. 1925. v 1,522,164

G. E. WICKENS now mm Original Filed Nov. 18. 1920 3 $1 eets-Sheet 3 EL?- Z3 Geo. .E. YVz'ckens,

Patented Jan. 6, 1925.

UNITED STATES GEORGE ERNEST WICKENS,

or. AVON, SOUT DAKOTA. v if ROAD DRAG.

Continuation of application Serial No. 424,897, filed November 1-8,1920. This application filed March. 13, 1924. Serial N0. 699,142. i 1

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. WICKENS, a citizen of the United States,and a resi dent of Avon, in the county of Bonhomme and State of SouthDakota, United States of America, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Road Drags, of whi'ch'the following is a specification.This invention relates to road working machines or drags of that type ofconstruction which employs a pair of forwardly divergent elongatedscraper elements or blades connected together and adapted to be drawn onan uneven road surface to effect leveling of the road surface.

This application is a continuation of my application filed on or aboutNovember 18, 1920, Serial No. 424,897, allowed June 22, 1923. I

An object of the invention is to obviate such relative movements of thescraper blades as would result in one ofthe blades being moved forwardindependentlyfof or for a greater distance than the other scraper blade,the invention providing a connection between the rear ends of thescraper blades for holding the respective blades against rolling orturning about their longitudinal axes and for simultaneous forwardmovement. s i

A further object of the invention is to )rovide a road drag of the classdescribed in which the scraper blades can be adjusted to vary theeffective width of the drag within a relatively wide range.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a-novcl draftarrangement which has connection with the scraper blades adjacent to therearward ends of the latterand adapted to transmit a pulling force tothe blades'so that such blades will be drawn forward to the same extentand in a like manner without causing any appreciable strain on theconnection between the rear ends of the scraper blades and withoutdisturbing the adjustment of the scraper blades in respect to eachother.

A further object of the invention is to provide a road drag which isprovided with an arrangement for adjustably supporting the scraperblades adjacent to their rearward ends onthe surface which is traversedby the drag so that the. depth to which the blades will cut may bevaried, and the distribution of loose material for filling indepressions in the road surface can be reg elated I attain the foregoingand other objects which will become apparent as the description proceedsby providing scraper blades which are substantially channel shaped inc'rosssection'al contour and are arranged with the edges of the flangesfacing downward; the blades being hingedly connected together adjacentto their rearward ends and being connected both adjacent to theirforward and rearward ends to a central draft member 1n comb nat on witha vertically ad ustable gauge orgrourid wheel for'supp'orting therearward endportions of thescraper blades.

The invention is illustrated inthe'accompanying drawings, wherein g v jFigure 1 's a plan view illiistratingthe preferred form of myimprovedroa'd drag or grader with draft means for advancing the same, e

Figure 2 is a rear elevation, F gure 3 is, a side elevation,

Figure 4 is detailedfragmentary ver tical sectionalview of theadjustment means for the gauge wheel, i Figure 5 is a fragmentary sideView showing the manner of journal'ling the gauge wheel, .7 Figure 6 is.a fragmentary 'p'lan"vieW showing a modified cross connection be tweenthe rear ends'of the side members or blades, I

Figure is afragmenta ry' plan View of afurther modification andillustrating another form of draft connection, v Figure Sis a partialplan view ofanother form of connection between the rear ends of theblades. V ff Figure, 9 Iisa rear elevat ion'of the structure shown inFigu re 8, and j i Figure 10f a perspective view of aflsocketed bracketeinployed for holding a supporting rod .of the gauge wheel supportingstructure. I Referring to thex'drawings in deta1l,1n which likereference characters designate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views, and particularly to Figures 1 to 5 1nclus've', theimproved device shown as emfbodying relatively long and sl1m s1demembers or bars 11 consisting of beams towhich shearing members orblades'12 are bolted or otherwise Secured, said blades being'produced.from channel bars of steel or other suitable metal placed with theflanges 13 thereof disposed to engage the earth or ground surface andproduce a cutt ng or shearing action and to effectively scrape andremove portions of highest elevation when drawn along the same. Theserigid side members or bars are disposed in forwardly divergent relation.At their rear ends, which are disposed closely adjacent to each other, aconnection, is provided, the same consistingv of two rigid bars 14:disposed in crossed relation, the point of crossing there-v ofbeinglocated between the rear ends of the main side members or bars 11, andeach of the bars 14 having a pivotal connection adjacent to one ofitsends with one of the 'side members' 11 adjacent to the rear end of thelatter, and having a pivotal connection adjacent to its other end withthe other side member 11 at a point located an appreciable distance, inadvance of the rear end of the latter, thus maintaining the side membersone opposite the other and po's'tively preventing them from moving intounsymmetrical angular relation Which would .interfere wlth uniformity ofscraplng and grading action. In this manner, a road drag is producedwhich is composed practically of two rigid members joined together attheir rear 1 ends to extend forward and toward the two sides of the roadso as to produce a uniform action at both sides of themiddle line oftheroad, the connecting bars of the cross connection operating as ahinge and allowing the forward or outer ends of the main side memberstobe drawn close together or widely separated to meet different roadconditions.

The drag may be drawn by a chain, or other connection, illustrated as achain 17, which may be adjusted in length and which is provided withrearwardly divergent connections 18 secured at their rear ends to theinner or rear ends of the main side members or blades. This chain orconnection may beattached at its forward end to the motive power ordraft animals, a portion 19 of a tractor being shown with a hingedconnection 2Q and a ring orthe like 21 detachably connected thereto. Thebranched connection serves to draw the dragfrom its approximate centerand relieve the cross connection of the strain of maintaining the sidemembers in their proper relative positions.

From the respective forward or outer ends of the two main side members,two side connections 22-a1'e provided and pass in: wardly and slightlyforwardly to the afore said point of. attachment of the draft member tothe motive power, these side connections serving to hold the outer endsof the side blades or members thereof in position.

By this means, the device is drawn from the rear and center, thusallowing a relatively good control and permits short turns.

close hitch between the tractor, or other draft means and the drag,which allows The side connections 22 preferably comprise rigid outerportions or sections 23 which are bolted or otherwise fastened at theirouter ends to the outer ends of the side members as shown at 24', so asto move or pivot horizontally and are prevented from moving or swingingvertically with respect to the side members; while the inner portions orsections 25 are flex ble, being of chain, cable or. the like and'areconnected to the inner ends of the sections 23 and to the hitch or pullchain. The outer end portions or sections of the side connections are ofsufficient length to have a steadying effect on the side members and toassist the rear cross connection in resist'ng their tendency to roll.

The device may be adjusted from two feet in width to more than ten timesthat width, the single main draft connection serving to cause equal pullon the two side members to maintain them equally advanced. The rigidsect'ons 23 may be as short or as long as desired. The width of theroadway which is to be covered is regulated by adjusting the length ofthe main draft connection or hitch, which passes between the rear end ofthe drag and the point of attachment to the motive power. The drag isdrawn entirely by the main draft connection, and when the drag isoperating at its maximum width, the side connections 22 lead outpractically at right angles from the forward end of said draftconnection or chain, and the side connections, even without'the aid ofthe rigid cross connection or platform, serve to hold the side members'or blades from rolling forwardly, as a result of friction between theroad surface and the lower edges of the channel shaped bars forming theside members. I

A supporting device at the rear of the drag, comprises a wheeled lever26 made up of two forwardly convergent bars 27 pivoted for limitedvertical swinging movement at their rear ends to the side members nearthe rear'ends of the latter, is by means of substantially ve-rticalpivot pins carried by the bars 11 and extending loosely through openings51 in the bars 27, the openings 51 enlz'irging toward their upper endsas best seen in Fig. 3. The bars 27 are joined together at their forwardends as shown at 28, in order to move together.

This lever is provided with a ground engaging member which may consistof a gauge wheel or wheels, or skid, and as shown, bearings orhangers 29consisting of U-bolts or the like carried by the bars 27 of the leversupport the axle 30 of a ground or gauge wheel 31 which by itsengagement with the ground serves to support or partially support therear end of the drag proper for the purposes heretofore set forth. Thelever is swung downwardly to bring the wheel in contact with the ground,and slidablyengages a vertical rod 32 which is secured or supported inany suitable man ner in vertical position and which as shown, isprovided with a series of spaced apertures 33 adapted to be engaged byacross pin 34 carried in alined apertures in the opposed bars 27. Thevertical rod 32 may be supported upon a platform 35 on the sidemembers,the lower end of the rod. being engaged in a socket 36 of a casting 37forming a bracket or base plate which is secured to the platform, whichlatter is adapted especially for use when draft animals are employed. Anupright frame or guide 38 is arranged on the platform at the forwardedge of the latter and held in position by inclined side braces 39, therear ends of which are connected to the platform at the rear edge of thelatter. This frame and braces are especially adapted for use when thedevice is drawn by draft animals However, it may be employed to giveadded weight or it may be omitted entirely, especially when'employingthe draft means as shown. 7

In Figure 6, a modification of the device is shown, in which thestructure is the same, with the exception of the cross connection, asingle bar 40 connecting the rear ends of the side members 11, in lieuof the cross bars 1 1. This single rigid .bar is pivotally attached at40 to the side members 11 to extend across the rear ends of the sidemembers so as to allow said side members to hinge as previouslydescribed but to resist any tendency'of the side members to roll over.In this plan or form of the invention, the branched hitch is dependedupon primarily, to maintain the side members in their properrelativepositions. In the form of the device shown in Figure 6, the verticalpivot pins work in slots or elongated openings 52 in the side members 11aswell as being loosely'received in the openings 51 in the bars 27.

In the form shown in Figure 7 a flexible connection or chain 41 isemployed to connect the side members at their rear ends in lieu of arigid connection or bar. In lieu of the branch chains 18 of the hitch,stiff or rigid connections may be provided as shown at 42, the samebeing in the form of a V and branching from the rear end of the chain 17for connection with the rear ends of the side members. In addition, thesections 23 of the side connections may be relatively long to preventthe side members rolling over.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 8 and 9, a single rigidbar 43 shaped like an inverted U. is used to form the cross connection.The depending portions or legs 44 thereof at the extremities or ends areset down into sockets in castings or the like 45, secured upon the sidemembers detachably, as indicated at 46.. These U-shaped members may bearranged singly or in crossed relation as previously described,producing practically the sameresults in operation. The drag is adaptedto cover a-wide road and still let the blades operate with a shearingaction. which positively reduces high places and carries all loosematerial forward and inward to the center to fill all low places. Also,by making the side members with a crown or downward curve from the innerto the outer ends it is possible to pro duce a road surface with anysort ofcrosssection desired.

The use of the supporting wheel-allows the side members to unload allloose material carried ahead of them before it reaches the center of theroad where it would not be needed and where it would form a ridge. Itmay also .beexplained that the use of the novel cross connectionsbetweenthe side members permits of relatively wide range of adjustmentof width of the dragand per mits the use of relatively light and longside members so that the device is adapted. to cover a relatively greatwidth while keeping the sides at a. shearing angle and without requiringmore power than is usually required to draw ordinary drags ofapproximately half the Width. f I

The side members may be of any suitable integral or built-upconstruction, and the blades may be of any. suitable cross section solong as provision is made for producing the necessary scrapingor cuttingedge or edges. The construction illustrated and described in which abeam is boltedor otherwise secured to the top of the channel v sidemember, serves the purpose of raising the o] )erating platformrelatively high from the ground. and to give a relatively greatelevation to the front surface of the side member. The Side connections22 may be entirely rigid or partly rigid and partly flexible, as shown.WVhen the platform is omitted, the vertical bar 32 may be supported bythe draft connections 17 and 18,

the latter, or portions thereof, being made sufficiently rigid for thispurpose. v

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of theinvention and in what manner the same is to performed, I declare thatwhat I claim is:

1. In a road drag, the combination with a pair of forwardly divergentre-arwardly convergent side members; of crossed rigid connections eachpivotally connected at its opposite endsto the respective side membersat points adjacent to the rearward ends of the latter.

2. In a road drag or grader, a pair of oppositely disposed forwardlydivergent channel-shaped members with the flanges thereof downwardly,said members being connected at their rear ends, a draft drain having abranch rear connection to said members near the inner ends of the latterand having side connections with the extremities at the for ward ends ofsaid side members, and a lever having a wheel for contact with thegronnd, said leyer being mounted for limited Vertical movement "at therear "ends or said'members,

and ineans to hold said lever in an adjusted position. y

4. In a road dragor grader, a pair of oppositel disposed bladed members,'c'o'nnecti'on across the rear ends of said members to hold the same inV-sh'a'pe'd relation, a draft chain extending centrally forwardly fromthe rear ends of said members, a lever pivoted for limited Verticalmovement at the rear ends of said members and provided with groundengagingnien iher t0 -raise said 'm'e'inhers when the lever is lowered,and means for holding said lever in a vertically adjnsted position;

5. In a road drag' or grader, apair of-opposit-sly disposed bladedmembers, a conne'ction across the rear ends of said members to hold thesame in V-shaped relation, a draft chain extending centrally forwardlyfro-in the rear ends of said members, a lever pivoted for limitedvertical movement D at the rear ends of said members and provided with aground engaging member to raise said members when the lever is lowered,a bar slidahly engaged by said lever, and means cooperating bfetw'ee'nthe bar and lever to hold the lever in 'a -ertically a'djus'ted positionwhereby to raise and lower the intermediate portions of the sideint-1nbers. V

'6. In a road drag, a pair of forwardly divergent longitudinal scraperelements, hori- 'zontal means swingin ly connecting the rearward ends ofthe scraper elements and holding aid scraper elements in spaced hori-'lontal ali nem'ent at their rearward ends, a longitudinal hitch elementconnected at its rearward end to the scrafper elements at pointsadjacent to the rearward ends of the latter and extending forwardly inZplane midway betn' een the scraper elements, and means connecting theforward ends of the scraper elements and t lrelongitudinal hitch"element for holding the -scraper elements against spreading apart froma determined relation and for 'co-operating with said first narn'ed*c'onn'e'cting means'to h'old said longitu'dinal "scraper elements fromturning about their longitudinal axes when a pull is exerted "on saidhitch element, said last means 'cbinprisin rigid sections having theremote portions trere'of horizontally and pivotally attached to thescraper elements and the remaining portions thereof inclined, andflexible sections connecting the adjacent ends of the inclined portionsor the inner sections jot the hitch elements.

7 In "a road drag", a pair of forwardly 'di- Vergent longitudinalscraper elements, a pair of inter-inediately 'cross'ed rigid bars one ofwhich is pivoted one end to 'one of said scraper elements at a pointadjacent to the rearward end of the latter and at its other end to theother scraper element at a fpointinore distant from the rearward endthereof than the point at which it is connected to the first scraperelement is dis mm from the rearward end "of the latter,

the oth'e-r'of said bars being similarly co-"n- 'ne'cte'd to the scraperelements and reversely disposed in respect to the respective scraperelements, a hitch element connected at its rearward end with the scraperelements at points adjacent to the rearward ends of the latter and'entending forwardly ih eqni-distant relation to "the respective scrapercleinents, and means connecting the hitch ele ment with the forward endsof the scraper elements for holding the latter against spreading apartfrom a determined relation.

GEORGE ERNEST VVI'CKENS.

